Ready to remodel? Here's how to start.

Jan. 27, 2014

Updated 3:35 p.m.

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The original 1960s kitchen of this Dana Point home was stripped and remodelled by Brion Jeannette Architecture to be more efficent and open. Skylights were added to be used as thermal chimmney to release hot air. COURTESY OF BRION JEANNETTE ARCHITECTURE

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Now updated and modern, the kitchen of this 1960s Dana Point home was completely remodelled by Brion Jeanette Architecture to be more efficent and open. COURTESY OF BRION JEANETTE ARCHITECTURE

The original 1960s kitchen of this Dana Point home was stripped and remodelled by Brion Jeannette Architecture to be more efficent and open. Skylights were added to be used as thermal chimmney to release hot air. COURTESY OF BRION JEANNETTE ARCHITECTURE

This is the year. You're ready to remodel your kitchen, redo the window, expand the bedroom or maybe just put in a skylight – to start that home-improvement project you've had in mind for … it seems like forever.

Without a clear idea of the first steps to take, though, the risk is high that you'll put it off a few more years. Don't let it happen!

Here, some O.C. experts offer specific suggestions for beginning your project so that 2014 is the year it becomes reality.

Define your goals

“Put your focus on what the problem is and what do you need to correct that problem,” says Brion Jeannette, AIA, president of Brion Jeannette Architecture in Newport Beach, who has worked for 34 years on local and international projects. “We have clients create a wish list – which makes it easier to solve those problems.”

Need ideas? Visit websites like houzz.com and Pinterest that allow you to create a folder of images of houses, rooms and details like sinks, fixtures and cabinets that you love, along with color schemes. Go to showrooms and model homes, and identify the looks you love: Contemporary? Spanish? Midcentury?

Be clear about your preferences, but keep an open mind. “The best client is one who has a general idea of what he or she wants and is open to suggestions and help,” says Andrew Shore, president of SeaPointe Construction (design, building and remodeling services) in Irvine, with 30 years of experience.

The next step is to put those wishes in order. “I ask clients to prioritize: What they must have, would like to have, and what's on the dream list,” says Shore.

While you're at this, though, be realistic. “Ask yourself three questions,” says Jeannette. “Do you like the neighborhood? Is the house worth putting money into? Did you buy it right (at a good price)? If you can say yes to these questions, the remodel is the way to go.”

Not sure if your home is worthy of improvements? “Do not pass go without getting the advice of an architect and a contractor,” writes Julie Carlson in her new book, “Remodelista: A manual for the considered home” (Artisan Books, $37.50).

Also important: Factor in how long you plan to live in this house. If you're going to be there for just a few years, do you really want to sink a lot of money into a big renovation? “If you're going to be there for 10 years, though, then the value will go up and exceed the cost of the work being done,” says Jeannette.

Determine your budget

Define how much you're willing and able to spend. Once you have a ballpark figure, you can explore options and costs with a better perspective.

Reach out to friends and neighbors who have gone through recent projects to find out what their costs were. Start researching materials and products.

And be willing to share your budget with professionals who can give you guidance. “Sometimes people act is if they're giving me inside information when they tell me the budget,” says Mark Hamilton, a Mission Viejo contractor who has worked in Southern California for 25 years. “And some people want me to say what a project will cost first. But if they give me a budget, then I can steer them in the right direction.”

When considering the costs of materials, labor, professional fees and permits, don't forget to add the cost of renting a place to live if you're planning a major renovation. Include money to cover an unexpected surprise, like discovering mold behind a wall that is torn down.

Find the right professionals

“A lot of people use the Internet to seek out talent,” says Jeannette, “but it shouldn't be your sole source. Talk to people you know who've just gone through a remodeling project – find out who they worked with. You need to sit down and interview the professionals,” he says.

Ask for three references, says Jeannette. Hamilton welcomes clients who want to check his. “You should check my references – not only for workmanship, but ask if I show up on time and do the job in a timely manner,” he says.

Working with a contractor? Check licenses: “Make sure that license is in the contractor's name, not a friend or the contractor's cousin,” advises Hamilton, explaining that if a contractor loses his license it's easy to send his wife to get one and reopen his business with a new name.

Who does what

The architect: An architect can create the overall design – providing construction drawings – and help get the necessary permits, make sure the structural components of your house are intact and be the point person for managing all aspects of the project.

The architect can also find ways to do the project so it will take less time and keep within the budget. If you're hiring one, check the California Architects Board to make sure he or she is actually an architect – some people use the term loosely. “Architects are proud of their numbers,” says Johnson, so license numbers should be easy to get.

The contractor: The general contractor is in charge of demolition and building – though some, like Mark Hamilton, are so experienced that they are involved with every aspect of the project. This person keeps the work on schedule and so should be well organized and able to manage a team of subcontractors – plumbers, electricians, painters, etc.

Structural engineer: If structural parts of a house are going to be moved or modified, then an engineer has to be brought in to make sure the work is done correctly. Typically the architect will know when an engineer must be brought into a project.

The interior designer:If the work you have in mind is more visual than structural – meaning it involves color changes, furniture, lighting and textiles – an interior designer can provide an integrated plan.

The whole team: How do you put a team together? “The owner hires the architect, who usually recommends general contractors and specialists, such as interior designers, landscape architects and structural engineers,” says “Remodelista” author Carlson. “The client interviews each of these team members for compatibility and hires them directly. The general contractor recommends, hires, manages, and pays all subcontractors. The hierarchy is critical for both efficiency and quality of work.”

Some companies have many of these professionals under one roof. “I'm a big believer in the design-build concept,” says Andrew Shore, whose company includes a full spectrum of professionals.

“Working as a team – with contractor, designer and architect working together – is a cost-effective way to do things,” he says.

Go for green choices

“Any time you can go with an energy-efficient product, you will be saving money,” says Jeannette. From washing machines to light bulbs, green products may cost more initially, “but the cumulative benefits are huge.”

With many energy-efficient brands, you can get rebates from your local power or water district. (Visit Sce.com and socalgas.com/for-your-home/rebates/.)

Looking at new appliances? “There are showrooms where you can actually cook with the appliances,” says Jeannette. Pirch in Costa Mesa at the South Coast Collection (thepirch.com) features 10 kitchen vignettes where cooking demonstrations are held so you can see how various appliances work.

There will be stress

Home-improvement projects are usually complicated, disruptive and stress-inducing. Hiring competent professionals with track records of finishing jobs in a timely manner and within budget can help minimize stress.

But be prepared for dust, chaos and surprises. “We try very hard to set realistic expectations,” says Shore of SeaPoint Construction.

And avoid “scope creep,” the brainstorm that can prolong the project and add costs. “The more you can vet the plan in the beginning, the less expensive it will be, and it will be quicker to do the job,” says Jeannette.

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